Is asymmetric dishing essential?

[All uphill]

A few months ago I replaced the rear hub on my tourer using new spokes. 2000 miles later the wheel is still true.

It was recently pointed out to me that I have given it similar dishing on each side. The tyre clears the chainstays and I have been able to adjust the brakes and mudguards to suit, but the rim is clearly off the centre line of the frame.

The person pointing out my "mistake" couldn't tell me why he thought it an issue. What do you think?

 

[Ian H]

Given that Mike Burrows has designed bikes (& trikes) with deliberately out-of-line wheel tracks, there's no fundamental reason why it should matter. I assume the wheel is parallel with the frame. If it handles okay, then... fine.

 

[TheDoctor]

@Wobbly John of this parish has built a bike with a hinged frame.
It's perfectly rideable with the wheels about a foot offset to each other!

 

[All uphill]

@Wobbly John of this parish has built a bike with a hinged frame.
It's perfectly rideable with the wheels about a foot offset to each other!
View attachment 477738

Thanks, this makes me wonder why rear wheels are often built with the drive side spokes almost "flat". Maybe my 90's steel frame has greater than normal clearances.

 

[MichaelW2]

Some frames have been built to with offsetn rear triangles to enable almost symmetrical wheels to be built. If memory serves, the Pace RC100 mtb and Orbit Gold Medal tourer + some custom frames by Tony Oliver.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Generally the hub used for the wheel dictates the dishing. A hub that uses a cassette needs dishing which in turn helps with the chain line.
Single speed / track hubs wheels don't need asymmetric dishing.

The tolerance for some bikes I've seen is so tight that unless the wheel is dead centred in the frame, you get tyre rubbing on the frame.

 

[Sharky]

Not just asymetrical, one of my rear wheels has tangential spoking on the cassette side and radial spoking on the other. Presume to make it a bit stiffer.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Not just asymetrical, one of my rear wheels has tangential spoking on the cassette side and radial spoking on the other. Presume to make it a bit stiffer.

Campag do that.

 

[Sharky]

Campag do that.

Mine is a mavic elite

 

[midlife]

Not just asymetrical, one of my rear wheels has tangential spoking on the cassette side and radial spoking on the other. Presume to make it a bit stiffer.

Trendy in the 70's TT scene. Radial spokes in the front and a rear like yours

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Bike will ride better if rim is centred over hub. Rim brakes obviously would want it centred as well.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Not just asymetrical, one of my rear wheels has tangential spoking on the cassette side and radial spoking on the other. Presume to make it a bit stiffer.

Stiff enough is stiff enough.

That besides, how on earth does that pattern make the wheel stiffer?

 

[si_c]

That besides, how on earth does that pattern make the wheel stiffer?

Voodoo

 

[Wobbly John]

Campag do that.

My Fulcrum rear wheel has 8 spokes one side, and 16 on the other!

If you want to use one length of spoke, yet want the rim to run central to the hub, then you need an assymetric OCR (Off Centre Rim) rim - I have a Ritchey OCR on the back of one of my MTBs.

 

[Wobbly John]

Some frames have been built to with offsetn rear triangles to enable almost symmetrical wheels to be built. If memory serves, the Pace RC100 mtb and Orbit Gold Medal tourer + some custom frames by Tony Oliver.

Also some ICE recumbent trikes.